916-pound pumpkin dropped at Boundary Tractor

Just for a little fun, Michael Barany took his grandchildren Kylie, 4, and Cyrus, 2, to the third annual pumpkin drop at Boundary Tractor on Friday.

They weren’t disappointed.

A 916-pound pumpkin grown by Rick Maggi of Bonners Ferry was dropped from 40 feet high onto a box decorated with a pig that read “H1N1” for the swine flu. When the pumpkin crushed the box, 30 red, white and black balloons were released. The balloons represented germs from the flu, which has captured national headlines.

“We always try to look for issues in the news,” said Boundary Tractor owner Cal Russell. “Last year, it was dropped on the New York Stock Exchange.”

Tom Ulappa designed the and drew the pig, while Michelle Barker and Russell painted it. Jim Tucker offered moral support.

Maggi, who has twice set the records for the largest pumpkin in Idaho, donated the 916-pound pumpkin for the event. Maggi planted it as a seedling in early May. He picked the pumpkin on Oct. 9.

In 2008, Maggi’s 1,100-pound pumpkin shattered the Idaho state record gourd by 60 pounds. Maggi broke the record set by Brian Christensen of Rexburg in 2007 with a 1,040 pumpkin. Christensen broke Maggi’s old record of 1,011 set in 2006.

Growing these massive pumpkins requires seeds with a very good genetic background that can turn out at least a 1,000-pound pumpkin. Weather, fertilizer and luck help.

In related matters, Alan Winkelseth won the guess-the-weight-of-the-pumpkin contest. Winkelseth guessed 901 pounds.